Ducks feast on Coyotes

After winning six games in a row the Ducks reeled off six losses in a row, effectively wiping out the benefits of their winning streak. After having their longest break of four days off this season the Ducks lost at home to the Blackhawks 4-1. Despite the break they have still played the most amount of games in the NHL. The Ducks had to quickly turn it around and hit the road for a short trip in Phoenix. How would they do?

The Ducks are still without Teemu Selanne who is day to day with his groin injury, so that puts them at a disadvantage already. The game had a slow start to it and after a few bad bounces, the Ducks found themselves down 3-1. Not a good sign against a team they usually struggle against, despite having more talent. But then the Bobby Ryan show started. Ryan one-timed a rebound/pass from Ryan Getzlaf to cut the deficit. Wojtek Wolski missed a wide open net on a power play and the coyotes then had a couple of weak bounces that took a funny bounce right to Ryan. Ryan skated away on the breakaway and made a nifty move for his second goal. We though it was also going to be his second shorthanded goal in about a week but the power play had just expired prior to the goal. Getzlaf added his 2nd of four assists with a beautiful pass, after some nifty stick-handling, to rookie Brandon McMillan for his fist NHL goal. Corey Perry knocked in the eventual game winner off of Bryzgalov from the side of the net. Ryan had another semi breakaway and beat Bryzgalov again for his 2nd career hat trick. This completed the turn around of the game, as the Ducks scored three goals in just under two minutes. Scottie Upshall added a goal later but that was all the comeback the Coyotes could muster, as the Ducks downed them 6-4 and snapped the Coyotes seven game win streak in the process.

Luca Sbisa had his first plus of the season with a +1. Despite giving up four goals, Jonas Hiller made some crucial stops as the Ducks were out shot again. Andy Sutton has a at least one penalty in all four games he has played this season and received a double minor in the game. Dan Sexton has a three game point streak since filling in for Teemu Selanne on the Koivu Blake line. Earlier today Joffrey Lupul was sent to the AHL for three games for conditioning. This means that he could be rejoining the Ducks very soon. The downside is with Lupul and Selanne probably both coming back in a week, it creates a log jam at the forward spot. Young guys like McMillan and Nick Bonino will need to be sent back to the minors to make way for the veterans. On Monday the Ducks have the first meeting of the freeway face-off series with the Los Angeles Kings at Anaheim.

Comments

I would have to say that Bobby Ryan is one of my favorite players in the NHL to watch. He is incredible. Saturday's win for the Ducks was obviously HUGE and coming back against the Coyotes was a big statement. The West is clearly the best conference this season, but the Ducks are definitely looking a lot better than they were when the season first started.